Roxas Blvd.’s southbound lane to close starting Jan. 15 for drainage repairs

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard will be closed for motorists starting January 15 to make way for drainage repairs, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Wednesday.

“Gusto ko hong i-anunsyo na isasara na po ang Roxas Boulevard (I want to announce that Roxas Boulevard will be closed)… This is to give enough time for the motorists to be forward and we will also lay down all of the other reroutes na directions na aming ibibigay po ngayon (today),” MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos pronounced in a virtual press conference.

MMDA director for traffic Neomie Recio said that the southbound lane will close for two months beginning Saturday, 6 a.m.

“‘Yung uunahin kasing isara is ‘yung southbound muna. So, ang duration nga niyan… ginawa na lang nilang two months, ‘yun ay para sa southbound,” said Recio.

(We will first close the southbound lane. The duration will be for two months.)

“Parang pinag-uusapan namin is ala-sais ng umaga ng Sabado kasi delikado kasing magsara ng midnight. Baka may maaksidente tayo, gabi. Alanganin, hindi sanay pa ‘yung tao. So, dapat ‘pag maliwanag na, saka pa lang tayo magkaroon ng zipper lane. So, ang pagsasara natin is Sabado, ala-sais ng umaga,” she added.

(We talked about closing it Saturday, 6 a.m. because it will be dangerous to close it at midnight. Accidents may occur at night. People are not used to it yet. So, when morning comes, we’ll put the zipper lane. So, our closure is Saturday, 6 a.m.)

After completion of the southbound lane repairs, the northbound lane would then be closed for repairs.

The MMDA advised motorists with light vehicles to pass through either of the following routes:

-From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard, take Roxas Boulevard – Buendia Avenue service road, turn right at Buendia Avenue Extension then left at Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard to destination

-From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard, turn right at H.K. Sun Plaza access road then left at Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard to destination

-From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard, left at President Quirino Avenue to destination

Meanwhile, those with heavy vehicles, like trucks and trailers, are encouraged to take this route: turn left to P. Burgos Avenue, straight towards Finance Road and Ayala Boulevard, then right to San Marcelino Street, take P. Quirino Avenue to the South Luzon Expressway to destination.

Abalos asked for the public’s understanding of the closure as the move is necessary.

“Humihingi po kami ng pang-unawa sa publiko ukol dito dahil kailangan talagang i-repair ito… Dito dumadaan ang mga tubig na galing sa Pasay papuntang Manila Bay, sa ilalim po nito,” he said.

(We ask for the public’s understanding about this as this needs to be repaired. Beneath the road is where the water from Pasay to Manila Bay passes through.)

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JPV